If Washington wants to do something about the public health issues left behind by the opioid abuse epidemic, it might have to start doing something about prescription-drug costs.
August 18, 2015
Big names in Washington are increasingly joining the fight to combat the rise of opioid and heroin abuse, but the conversation around the issue is missing half the problem.
On Monday, the White House announced an initiative to curb heroin use by addressing it as both a public-safety and public-health issue, pairing law enforcement with access to treatment for addicts. This builds on momentum within Congress and talk among 2016 presidential hopefuls surrounding the reduction of national opioid drug addiction.
But largely excluded from the discussion is what to do about those living with the consequences of their addiction and the public health concern that presents. For many, access to treatment for disease contracted through drug use is unaffordable. Although there is medication on the market to treat hepatitis C—a disease common among drug users—its cost often makes it unavailable to the sick.
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